How To Gain S-Off, Flash a Custom Recovery, and Root Your Android Phone Using the Revolutionary Method
August 2, 2011 in Android General How To's, Android How To's, Featured, How To's, HTC Aria How To's, HTC Desire How To's, HTC Desire S How To's, HTC Droid Incredible 2 How To's, HTC Droid Incredible S How To's, HTC Evo 3D How To's, HTC Evo How To's, HTC Flyer How To's, HTC MyTouch 4G How To's, HTC MyTouch 4G Slide How To's, HTC Sensation How To's, HTC Thunderbolt How To's, HTC View How To's, HTC Wildfire How To's, Video
The people that brought you the Unrevoked tool for rooting devices back in the day, and the people that brought you the AlphaRev rooting tool have joined forces and come up with a new tool to root, gain S-Off, and load a custom recovery on a decent list of devices. This tool is called Revolutionary. Here’s the devices it is known to work on and here’s how to use it.
I. Before You Begin
1. This is a DEVELOPER release, so it isn’t the easiest method as of yet. They will release more stable versions as time goes on, this version is if you really can’t wait, but keep in mind there will be bugs to iron out in the initial versions.
2. List of devices the developers claim it works on:
Revolutionary currently supports the following Android phones and HBOOT versions:
Revolutionary will permanently unlock NAND write protection by default on the following phones:
3. If you are using Windows, download and install these Fastboot drivers.
4. If you have HTC Sync installed on your computer, you may have to remove it if you are having issues.
II. Gain S-Off
1. Download the latest version of the tool from the developers here (the initial versions require you to generate a beta key for you to use the program, just follow the steps to do so. If it lets you download the program without a beta key, then it’s a newer version than at the time of writing this, just continue):
2. Plug in your device.
3. Select charge only if the option exists on your device, or just do NOT mount the SD Card.
4. On your device, click on Settings > Applications > Development > Turn USB Debugging ON.
5. Find the Revolutionary program you downloaded and unzip it somewhere.
6. Right click it and select Open as Administrator (if you do not have that option when you right click, simply select Open).
7. Input your beta key you received and wait for it to do it’s thing (if you are using a newer version of Revolutionary then it might not ask you for this. If that is the case, just continue).
III. Flash a Custom Recovery Image
1.. Once done gaining S-Off, it will ask you if you want to flash clockworkmod recovery, type in y and hit enter.
2. Once it is done flashing the recovery image it will close the command prompt window.
3. On your phone, you should see S-Off at the top.
4. Take out the battery and put it back in.
5. Turn on the device, by holding down volume down and power until the screen boots up.
6. Push volume down and then power to select recovery.
7. If the phone reboots to the clockworkmod recovery screen you are all set.
IV. Gain Root Access.
1. With the phone still in clockworkmod recovery from the last step, plug it in via USB cable.
2. Select Mounts and Storage by using the volume buttons to move and power to select.
3. Then select mount sdcard (the sd card directory should pop up on your computer screen)
4. Download the root .zip file and save it to your computer (do NOT extract it)
5. Copy the root .zip file to the root of your sdcard and wait for it to transfer (not in any folders, just on the sd card itself).
6. On your device, select unmount sdcard.
7. On your device, select go back.
8. Then select Install zip from sdcard and choose the root .zip file.
9. Wait for it to flash, once done, select reboot system now.
10. Once your device reboots, open the app drawer and you should see Superuser permissions there. If so, you are all set, you are rooted, have S-Off and a custom recovery image.
V. Flash a Custom ROM (Optional)
1. Head to our How To Load a Custom ROM on your Android Phone After the Revolutionary Method procedure.
Tez86 said on August 22, 2011
I’m having some problems trying to root…I have managed to get S-Off and also create a recovery, but when I try mount the SD card, it doesnt bring up any options and just see the Revolutionary logo in the centre of the screen…. PLEASE HELP!!! As I want to install a custom rom!!
Sarrawanan Sundram said on August 26, 2011
Yaa.. same issue goes to me… im able to S-off and also create a recovery…. Revolutionary logo in the center of the screen….no options… and also… im unable to download the Root.zip file. the link is removed or something else….NEED HELP HERE…!!
Thanks you very much…
–
HTC ARIA.
Anonymous said on August 27, 2011
same issue! on HTC Wildfire (Buzz)
Mikedoncaster said on August 29, 2011
I have the exact same problem have you managed to find any solution?
Roger Snow said on April 15, 2012
In this case, to make selections, use the roller/tracker button at bottom of HTC Wildfire instead of power button.
Anonymous said on August 23, 2011
Haven`t tried this yet. Anyone know how to UNroot HTC Incredible S? Also, after I do this, will I be able to do a factory restore?
I want to make sure I can undo anything I change on my phone before I make any changes.
يوسف ياغي said on August 26, 2011
this way doesn’t work for my htc wildfire s please i need a way to root it.
Ryanneeley82 said on August 26, 2011
Can you do this on a Mac for the HTC sensation?
Elias Garzacedillo said on August 27, 2011
keeps saying invalid beta key aborting… help me plzz
Elias Garzacedillo said on August 27, 2011
i did it thnks haha i had to pay really goo attention
Anonymous said on August 27, 2011
I’m stuck at 2. Select Mounts and Storage by using the volume buttons to move and power to select. Every time I select anything from the cwm screen it just opens a black screen with Recovery on and I don’t get the option to mount sd card.. If I click on power again it just takes me back to the cwm screen.
tijnos said on September 3, 2011
I had the same problem (HTC DESIRE), using the optical track ball/mousy thingy (between your menu and back button) it somehow does work (slide up, down, push to select). Great I will have a purpose for this button now!
rkm said on September 8, 2011
Hi Thanks, this helped me get past the blank revolutionary screen. Now however when I select mount /sdcard nothing happens on my pc so I can’t copy the root files over. Any ideas?
Thanks again
Datacadman said on October 12, 2011
You copy the root files which are zip files over to the root directory with you computer before you begin or after if you don’t get them all and go again. You either unmount your card and copy over from your computer or just use the USB cable and turn disk drive on. Turn it back off before running revolutionary (power only) and enable USB debugging.
There is a great IRC channel for support but they really don’t have patience for those that ask a question that’s been answered before, so look first.
rob said on October 24, 2011
How do you copy the files??? I had the same problem could not get the sd card to mount.
rob said on October 24, 2011
never mind
Rob said on October 24, 2011
How do you copy the files??? I had the same problem could not get the sd card to mount.
Anonymous said on November 21, 2011
If you haven’t done this already: Instead of Mount/SD card, Select Mount USB Storage. That had me stuck too until I watched the video while I was going through that part.
Esli_k said on December 3, 2011
Thanks, this helped me a lot! I got a blank revolutionary screen and could not go past! (Desire Bravo)
evo_speeerit said on October 2, 2011
USE THE trackpad optic (Middle button)!!AND BACK BUTTON;)
Datacadman said on October 12, 2011
Try pushing down on that thing with the hole in it at the bottom of your phone. The people on the IRC channel showed me that and I felt stupid cause mine did the same thing. Some HTC’s don’t use the power button to select. They have a third physical button at the bottom of the phone which you have to press down on.
ChrisHTC said on November 18, 2011
My HTC wild fire does the same
Johnathanhall said on December 27, 2011
Use your Optical Pad (Tricky to scroll with) instead and push it in…. The same happened on my Desire, you don’t use the power button otherwise it just shows the REVOLUTIONARY Background strangely. I think the guide should be updated to accommodate this!
Tstanley009 said on January 23, 2012
mine did the same, but as evo_speeerit says select by using the trackball on your phone. my wildfire is happily rooted!
Octoadam said on August 28, 2011
Worked on EVO 4G but now need to send phone into assuring for warranty replacement so I need to undo if anyone can help email Octoadam@email.com
Alex said on August 31, 2011
Worked great Desire Bravo with HTC gingerbread 2.3 upgrade
Jocky_ng said on September 1, 2011
work on htc sensation 4g??
David Cogen said on September 1, 2011
Yes
LouAng said on September 3, 2011
will the files work if I’m downloading on mac?
Flipkick22 said on September 4, 2011
When i try to install .zip file it is aborted? what do i do?
Wakoquacko said on September 7, 2011
woop woop, worked first time, little with the beta key just turned out i typed my serial no. wrong.
S-OFF, root and about to do a custom rom
Johny said on September 7, 2011
Since I am a beginner at this, we’ll ask a stupid question: Do I have to do always a backup when installing a new custom rom?
Thanks
Hufton1986 said on September 10, 2011
iv followed all the steps so far without a problem but iv downloaded revolutionary and it wont run comes on for a split second and goes straight off again can any1 help pls
Halfaster said on September 11, 2011
Doesn’t support HBOOT 1.50.0000 yet.
Ehills said on September 11, 2011
Hello Alll-
So I got Revolutionary installed on an HTC Desire CDMA, Boot 1.6
However I cannot get Revoutionary to recognize the SD Card.
When I tell it to mount the sd card. I get a “Revolutionary” logo with no menu……
I was able to get the SU file onto the SD card with Astro.
But I cant execute it from revolutionary because i only get the first menu….
Any thoughts. questions…..
Kim Kaybee said on September 11, 2011
Thanks! Love your videos, Very helpful.
Jack Wilkins said on September 13, 2011
i cant use the root because my computer wont recognise it any pointers?
Verleen Wonderly said on September 23, 2011
Are you Windows or Mac? If on Windows, did you install the drivers?
Bigbugs21 said on September 15, 2011
Every time I enter the beta key, revolutionary says aborting due to invalid key. What to do now?
HTC Desire (NOT HD)
Android Version 2.3.3 HBoot 1.02.0001
Baseband Version 32.56.00.32U_5.17.05.23
Build Number 3.14.405.1 CL96875 release-keys
Software Number 3.14.405.1
Wakoquacko said on September 15, 2011
Make sure you typed in your serial number correctly on the revolutionary website coz its easy to get wrong as I found out myself
Verleen Wonderly said on September 23, 2011
Also try copying and pasting the key, rather than typing it. They are very easy to misunderstand.
Tollisth said on September 23, 2011
thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!you are the best i found solution here thanks again!
Tom said on September 24, 2011
I get all of the way to instilling the root.zip file when it aborts.
T Mobile HTC Sensation
1.18.000
Android Version 2.3.4
Matthew Solis said on September 28, 2011
i get as far as rebooting to fastboot (again)….then it says the comnicationwith device was terminated. have same hboot 1.18.0000
Joynted420 said on September 26, 2011
When will you make a method for the easiest way after the 2.3.4 update for the htc sensation.
Jaleelu said on September 29, 2011
I tried for my HTS Wildfire but it didn’t work. Is it because it’s updated to Android 2.2?
It says “Found your device= HTC Wildfire
Your device: Buzz, with HBOOT 1.01.002. is not supported at this time”
Anybody can give me an idea..?
ThatboyRc said on October 3, 2011
I KEEP GETTING THIS MASSEGE…… Your device: shooter, with HBOOT 1.50.0000 is not supported at this time
ThatboyRC said on October 3, 2011
Sorry I have the 3D Evo 4g
sulk said on October 4, 2011
Does anyone know if this works with the incredible s on gingerbread. “Keep getting Invalid beta key”
sulk said on October 4, 2011
figured it out… it works!!!
sulk said on October 4, 2011
figured it out… it works!!!
sulk said on October 4, 2011
figured it out… it works!!!
Datacadman said on October 12, 2011
Did you type all the numbers in correctly?
Anurag said on October 11, 2011
Just done the s-off and rooted my desire, the video tutorial made it very easy and safe. Thanks very much
Rafaellozada said on October 13, 2011
My HBOOT version wasn’t available on either models of the EVO3D available on the “Revolutionary site”. What should I do?
Linushen said on October 15, 2011
I can’t download the root.zip file.. had problem to load that link.
Jason said on October 16, 2011
I can’t find the Root .zip File … any new link for this please?